Small Business Month is upon us. This is our favourite time of year at the Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner because it gives us a great opportunity to help connect small businesses across the state with the many services and supports available in Queensland. If you are keen to get involved or attend an event in your local area check out Business Queensland. You will find over 100 events to choose from designed to help small business recharge, renew, and rebuild. This year it is all about education and connecting you with the support you need so please have a look and we hope to see you out and about!
Following the disastrous start to the year, our round tables were able to get back on track for 2025. It was insightful to hear from industry leaders, regional, remote and rural small business owners and landlords from across the state about red tape challenges and their proposed solutions. We have now received over 200 red tape example submissions, primarily from small business owners, about your lived experiences with red tape. Our data broadly indicates that red tape is costing business significant amounts of time and money and that you would like to see government increase its focus on customer service, transparency and consistency across the board. We are very excited to be working with Minister Minnikin and the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business to bring some of your recommendations to life.
Our Assistance team has also been busy resolving disputes between small business owners and between landlords and tenants this month—in an average of around 23 days and with successful outcomes in about 70% of cases! The Assistance team is a safe place to land and we’re here to help you find an amicable solution to your dispute. The hot topics this month have been unexpected charges or rent/cost increases and early exit or unaffordable rent with most disputes in the retail, manufacturing and hair and beauty space. If you are looking for support, particularly when it comes to business-to-business or business-to-landlord disputes then get in touch.
Upcoming activities
- 1 May – Sunshine Coast 30th Anniversary Business Awards Launch
- 2 May – Black Coffee Domestic & Family Violence Awareness Morning Tea
- 6 May – Advance Rockhampton Small Business Expo
- 8 May – Moreton Bay Region – Future-Proofing Your Business
- 9 May – Gympie Chambers Business Breakfast
- 13 May – Whitsunday Chamber Business Breakfast
- 13-14 May – Circular Futures NQ – Townsville
- 19-23 May – Tropical Innovation Fest and Regional Visit
- 27 May – Somerset Region Business Breakfast
- 27 May – Pumicestone Business Excellence Awards
- 28-29 May – Small Business Friendly Conference and Welcome Reception
Connect with us
If you are new to our newsletter or want to learn more about our services, resources, initiatives, and projects, visit the QSBC website. If you need more information, call us on 1300 312 344 or submit an enquiry.
Dominique Lamb
Queensland Small Business Commissioner
For more details, read the QSBC newsletter April 2025